Speaking of Dividends

Walgreen Joins Payout-Boost Parade

Cummins, Fastenal, and KLA-Tencor also increase dividends.

Analysts at Markit Dividend Research predict that companies in the Standard & Poor's 500 index will pay cash dividends totaling $79 billion in the third quarter, a $9 billion, or 13%, increase over the level in the corresponding 2012 stretch. "The message is that companies are becoming more investor-friendly," the firm's vice president, Chai Gohil, said last week (Barrons.com, July 9, "Markit Sees Sweeter Dividends Ahead").

In line with that prediction, here's a sampling of S&P 500 members that...